Part 140 - Lo La halt and seed collecting, 6–7 October

1 page

SUMMARY:
At Lo La the diarist records clear, cold weather, intensive seed collecting of Primula and Omphalogramma, and notes on phenology and collection numbers. He mentions health issues (Kusho’s fever, his own heart), logistics and routes for Ludlow and Taylor via Gacha to Rolo, a returned coolie from Tsungpain, and observations over Lopa country, with Jia remembered for recognizing past camps.

CONTENT:
70 Lo La
omph. brachysiphon 6546

Could see, I have nearly two full packets of seed. Both the Omphalogrammas are over, hardly a seed left. I have not had time for more yet. There is not a cloud in the sky these evenings and the whole place is most beautiful. Very cold, hard frost at night. Kusho is sick tonight, but just a touch of fever I think. One of Tsungpain's coolies has returned, so I fear he may have some trouble. I don't know the reason: he merely says he was sent back. Ludlow and Taylor will I hope get over the bridge tomorrow up to Rolo. It was hard luck on them, and will make them late. However I believe all transport is ready for them in Rolo when they arrive, and that is something. I have been feeling my heart the last two days, and must go quietly for a bit. It is a pity now, just when there is such a lot to do, which means a lot of climbing. We still have Tsari Sama (2 passes), Tsela, Chikung La, Chubumbu La and the two to Nyigutun, Todo, and one at Nyigutun and Chikchar.

6th October. Halt. Lo La. Not a cloud all day. I went on collecting P. Elizabethae 6547, and have now five packets. Surely since one will raise something from these. That represents about seven hours work, four of them with 2 of us collecting. No P. Valentiniana seed. Omphalogramma all thrown too almost. P. Elizabethae was under 3-4 ft of snow on 15th May. The seeds must have been at their best for collecting on about 15-25th Sept. — a wonderfully short season. I hear today that Ludlow and Taylor have gone round by Gacha: presumably Pintso has come to Rolo, and if that is so, there can be no mail, or I should have heard. Jia is funny the way she remembers all our camps of even April, where we stopped only a night. She runs ahead when near them and sits down there waiting for the transport to come up.

7th October. Halt. Lo La. Fine, but cloudy a good deal of the day. Although cloudy here, I could see over the Lo La and away down over Lopa country as far as one could see, and it was absolutely clear, so I don't think there will be much snow or hail. The clouds too are coming from the East. I went up today to see if I could find Primula lactea. We got good seeds of P. Valentiniana, and found both P. Subularia and my new Dryadifolia Sect Prim (5865) tsangpoensis and got seed of them — a good collection of the latter, which was coming into flower again. I saw P. Jonarduni flowering.